Template controlled machine tool



Jan. 19, 1965 K. w. HASPEL 3,165,976

TEMPLATE coNTRoLLED MACHINE Toor.

Filed OCT.. 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jn venfor: KARL WILHELM HASPEL.

Jan. 19, 1965 K. w. HAsPl-:L 3,165,976

TEMPLATE CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL Filed oct. 5o, 1961 i s sheets-sheet 2 .7n venar:

KARL WILHELM HASPEL Jan. 19, 1965 K. w. HAsPEL 3,165,976

TEMPLATE CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL Filed Oct. 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jnvenar:

KARL WILHELM HASPEL.

lhlh Patented Jan. lg, i965 alessia reafirman contactarlo Massima 'ro-orJ Karl vWi'l` "in Haspel, herkoehen, @ernia y, assigner to 1rFirma helm @rapa KE., Werkzeug und Maschinenantik, @heli-rocken, Germany i Filed Get. 3d, i961, Ser. No. 143,342 l Claims. (Cl. @ll-13.2)

The presentinvention relates to a template controlled machine tool, and more particularly to a template controlled milling `machine having two milling tools for simultaneously machining two merging or intersecting faces of a pointed workpiece. m Milling machines are known in Vwhich two milling tools simultaneously work on the two faces of a pointed workpiece. However, the milling machines of the prior art are incapable of machining the faces to a point where the two faces intersect or merge, since the milling tools interfere with each other at the pointed end of the workpiece. Since in template controlled milling machines, feeler members Vmove along a template, the same difficulty arises with respect to the feeler means, since the m `saine would interfere at the pointed end of the template, and consequentlycannot be placed in a position in which the milling tools would machine the faces of the workpiece in the region of the pointed end of the workpiece.

ln the template controlled machines of the prior art having two simultaneously operating tools, the tools are guided away from the pointed end ofthe workpiece..

. bers or of tools, or `an adjustment of' the same is diiiicult.

It is one object of the `present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the 4known template controlled machine tools serving the above explained purpose, and toprovide a template controlled machine tool capable of machining two faces of a workpiece which merge `or intersect at one end ofthe workpiece.

`Another,object of the present invention is to provide a `template means having guide tracks crossing each other at a crossing pointv` so that sensing members moving on the guide' tracks may guide corresponding tools up to, and beyond theV pointed end of a workpiece.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide ailrst pointed template whose shape corresponds to the `outline of a pointed workpiece, and a second-template `for guiding the respective feeler members beyond the pointed end of the first template so that the tools move beyond the pointed end of the workpiece.

consequently it is not necessary to machine such pointed v of the workpiece.

end in a separate operation.

The pointed end of the workpiece is formed by two machined faces, and the term pointed end is used in the present specification to include shapes of the workpiece where the machined faces merge at a rounded end In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide tracks are located in parallel planes, and the `feeler members are respectively located in these parallel planes and move in the same while engagingthe guide tracks of the template means. The respective controlled tools, however, are located in the same plane to simultaneously machine two faces of the` workpiece which are located in the sameplane. 5 1

Yl`he two eeler members which move along the guide tracks are spaced from each other along the guide tracks and the template means, so that they do not arrive simultaneously at the crossing point or" the guide tracks, and the controlled tools are correspondingly spaced along the workpiece so thatirst one tool passes beyond the pointed end of the workpiece, whereupon the other tool arrives at the pointed end of the workpiece and cornplot-es the operation. g

. of the woripiece, each of the arm means carrying a milling tool and a sensing member guided along a `guide track of the template means.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a templatecontr'olled machine tool with a template means having guide tracks crossing each other so that the tools canmachine the workpiece up to the pointed end thereof while the feeler means are guided on the" guide tracks over the crossing point;

With these objects in View, one embodimentof the present invention includes a first unit comprising ternplate means having guide tracks crossing each other at a` crossing point, and holder means Y for holding a workpiece; a seconclunit comprisingfe'eler means engaging the guide tracks, and tools operatively connected to the feeler means for movement with the same; and means for moving o n'e of these units relative to the other unit i `so thatthe feeler means move along the guide tracks.

Since the guide tracks and the feeler'members are located in dillerent planes, any interference of the :eeler members in the region of the crossing point `of the guide tracks is avoided. i

ln the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the workpiece, for example a ski, is clamped to the template, and a pair of arm means is provided on opposite sides lnY the preferredernbcdiment of the invention, the template means include a lirst template whose outline `corresponds to the pointed outline of the workpiece, and

"asecond template havingsecond track portions constituting the continuation of the track portions of the Vfirst template and providing the crossing point of the guide tracks. Vireferably, Vthe second track portions of the second template cross each other so that the guide tracks both asto its construction andits method ofV operation, v

together with additional objects and advantages thereof,

.willA be best understood from thefollowing description of spec1fc embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: A FlG. l is a front view of a template controlled milling machine accordingtto one embodiment of the invention;`

FiG. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the embodiment of FlG l;

FlG. 3 is a fargmentary perspective View illustrating a detail of the embodiment of FG. l;v

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on `line 4-i in FlG. 2 and illustrating a detail on an enlarged scale; 1.

HG. 5 is afragmentary sectional View taken on line 5-5 in PEG. 2 and illustrating a detail on an enlargedscale;

FlG. 6 is' a fragmentary plan View illustrating aA part FIG. 6, but illustrating another operational position of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings, a template controlled milling machine has a main support 1li on which a machine bed 11 is xed. A slide or carriage 15 is mounted for longitudinal movement in guideways of the machine bed 11, and can be moved by conventional means on the machine bed. Template means are secured to the slide 15, and include a rstytemplate 16 having guide track portions 17 and 18 which meet at the pointed end of template 15.

A workpiece, shown to be a ski, is secured to the template 16 by holding member 25 which cooperates with another holding member secured to template 16 to tix the pointed and curved end of the workpiece on template 16 and slide 15. A holding bridge 22 is secured to slide 15 and supports pneumatic cylinder-and-piston means Z4 which press abutment member 25 down so as to clamp workpiece A second template is arranged on slide 15 opposite and spaced from the pointed end of template 15, and includes two template members 23 and 29 superimposed on each other and'having guide track portions 30 and 31.

As is best seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, the rst template 16 has a height a which corresponds `to the height of both template members 28 and Z9. Guide track portions 30 and 31 have lthe heights b and c, respectively, so that on the lirst template 16 guide track portions 13 and 17 having the heights b and c are'located in the same horizontal' planes as guide track portions 3l? and 31.

As best 4seen in FIG. 2, template member 28 has a portion extending to one side of template 16, while the corresponding portion of template 2.9 has an end spaced fromvthe respective other side of template V15.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, template members 28 and 29 have guide track portions which cross each other .at the pointrStic.

The crossing point 30C divides the guide track 3l) into two track portions 30a and 31th, and the guide track 31 into two track portions 31a and 3111. Threaded means 29 secure template members 28 and 29 to each other angularly adjustable, and also to an undercut slot 15 in slide 15 so that the distance between the crossing point 30C and the pointed end of template 16 can be adjusted.

.Fixed columns 35 and 3e are disposed on opposite sides of slide 15, and each column carries arm means which can swing about the vertical axes of columns 35 and 36. The arm'means include support arms 37 and 3S carrying motors 39 and 4i), respectively, tool arms 45 and 46, and

feeler arms 55 and 56 which are xedly secured to the tool arms 45 and 46 for angular movement with the same. Springs, not shown, bias the arm means to turn inwardly.

v are arranged at different heights, as best seen in FIGS.

4` and 5 solas to be located on guide track portions 17 and 15respectively, in the initial position shown in FIGS.

' y1, 2 and 4. AFeeler arms 55 and 56 are secured to bolts which are mounted in corresponding bearings of the tool arms l and 46 adjustable in'vertical direction, so that Y it is possible to exactly place feeler rollers 57 and 58 on the corresponding guide track portions 17 and 18.

Tool arm 45 and vfeeler arm 55 have the same length e and are shorter than tool arm i6 and feeler arm 56, which also have the same length. f. Consequently, the axes of the eeler rollers 57 and 55 are spaced a distance d between ordinates di), e1 perpendicular to the guide Y track portions 17 and 18' of template 16.

The machine is operated as follows. A ski Ztl is secured to the first template by the holding means 24, 25 in a position in which the opposite lateral faces thereof are parallel to the parallel first guide track portions 17 and 1?, and in which the pointed end thereof is substantially aligned with the pointed end of template 16 where guide track portions 17 and 1S cross each' other. 15, which forms a unit with a template means 16, 25, 29 and holding means 22, 24, 25, is moved in longitudinal direction of the template means and of workpiece 20 on the machine bed 11, which forms a second unit with columns 39, d5, and with the tool-andfeeler arms. The tools 5G and 51 engage the lateral faces of the workpiece Ztl while the feel/er rollers 57 and 5S move along the guide track portions 17 and 1li. As is clearly shown in FIG. 4, fecler rollers 57, 58 are located at diterentheights in parallel horizontal planes, while milling tools 5i) and 51 are located in the same horizontal plane, although staggered in longitudinal direction of the workpiece the distance d, as best seen in FIG. 2.

i en the leading feeler roller 53arrives at the pointed end of template 16, the leading tool 51 arrives at the pointed end of the workpiece after having machined the curved face portion 55 of the workpiece. Feeler roller 58 now passes onto track portion 31a of template member 2S so that the tool 51 passes beyond the ypointed end or workpiece 2li, and fully machines the curved face When feeler member 53 has movedso farV passage of the other tool 5d, the trailing tool 5t) Vhas passed the curved face portion 66 of workpiece 20, and arrives in the-region of the pointed end of the workpiece, whileat the same time feeler roller 57 moves on track portion 17 beyond the pointed end of template 16. Feeler roller 57 now passes onto track portion 30a of template member 29 so that tool 51B can pass beyond the pointed end of workpiece 2t), and fully machine the same to the pointed end. From the above description of the movements of the feeler members 57 and 5S, it will be seen that guide track portions 17 and 1S, and guide .track portions Stla and 31a together form guide tracks which cross each other so that the feeler members 57 and 58 move along crossing paths, permitting the milling of the faces e5 and 66 of workpiece 2@ up to the pointed end of the.

workpiece. lf the end of the workpiece is rounded oft', the tool 5t) and 51 will move over the line where the faces merge into each other, and fullyV machine the end i portion of the workpiece.

During further movement of slide 15 in the same direc- Y tion, the leading feeler roller 5S will pass over the second crossing point 30C from track portion 51a to track portion 31h, so that thetool 51 will beretracted. Since the end of track portion 31b is farther spaced from the vertical plane of symmetry of workpiece 2t? than the corresponding face of workpiece Z0, the tool 51 will not engage the just machined face of the workpiece when the slide 15 is returned to its initial position.

-The trailing sensing roller 57 moves from track portion 59a over crossing point 50c to track portion Elib so that toolY 5G is retracted, .and does not interfere with the machined face or" the workpiece 20 when the slide is returned to its initial position. When feeler rollers. 57, 53 are on the farthest spaced track portions, the tool arms 45,46 are in their outermost positions, andV maybe arrested by releasable catch means, not shown, on columns 35, 36, or manually held bythe operator during the return movement of the slide.

Since the feeler rollers 57 and 58 move on guide tracks 17, 30, and 18, 31 at different heights, any interference between the feeler arm 55 and 56 at the two crossing points of the two guide tracks is avoided. "Any, interference of the tools 50 and 51 in the region of thev crossing points is avoided by the longitudinal spacing of the tools along the workpiece. l

The slide It will be understood that each of the elements de-V scribed above, "or two or more together, may also iindV a useful application in other types lof template controlled machine tools differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a template means having two guide tracks crossing each other at two crossing points and being located at different levels, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and vstructural changes may be madeV without departing in applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, vfairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaningand range of equivalence of the following claims. p

What is claimed as new and desired to `be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a template controlled machine tool, in combination, a rst unit comprising elongated template means having at least two guide tracks crossing each other at a crossing point, each guide track having a first track portion on one side of said crossing point and a second track portion on the other `Side of said crossing point, andholder means for holding a workpiece xed in a selected position relative to said temp-late means; a second unit comprising at least two feeler means respectively engaging said guide tracks, said feeler means being spaced from each other along said guide tracks, and two tool means operatively connected to said feeler means for movement with the same and adapted to operate on two faces of the workpiece, respectively, said tool means being spaced from each other along said workpiece the same distance as said feeler means are spaced along said ternplate; and means for moving one of said units relative to the other unit so that said feeler means move along said rst track portions and successive one at a time over said crossing point to said second track portions and said tool means move along crossing paths whereby said faces are fully'machined to aline successively passed by vone tool at a time where said faces merge or intersect, while each feeler means moves from the respective first track portion to said second track portion and over said crossing point.

2. Ina template controlled machine tool, in combina-` tion, a first unit comprising templatemeans having at least two guide tracks located in different planes ,and crossing each other at a crossing point spaced from each other, eachguide track having a first track portion on i one side of said crossing point and a second track portion on the other side of said crossing point, and holder t means for holding a workpiece fixed in a selected position relative to said template means; a second unit comprising at least two `feelermeans located in different planes and engagingsaid guide tracks, and two tool means located Vare fully machined to a line successively passed by one tool at a time where said faces merge or intersect, while `each feeler means moves in a different plane from the lrespective first track portion to said second track portion and over said crossing point.

i .3. `In a. template controlled machine tool, in combination, a` first unit `comprising template means having two guide tracks crossing each other at a first crossing and at d a second crossing point, each guide track having a first track portion on one side of said rst crossing point, a second track portion between said first crossing point and said second crossing point, and a third track portion on the other side of said second crossing point, and holder means for holding a workpiece Xed in a selected position relative to said template means; a second unit comprising at least two feeler means respectively engaging said guide tracks at points spaced along said guide tracks, and two tool means operatively connected to said feeler means for movement with the same and adapted to operate on two faces of the workpiece, respectively; and means for moving one of said units relative `to the other of said units so that said feeler means move along said first track portions and successively one at a time yover said first crossing point to said second `track portions and said tool means move along crossing paths whereby said faces are fully machined to a line successively passed by one tool at a time where said Vfaces merge or intersect,

and so that said feeler means move from said second track i portions over said second crossing point to said third track portions whereby said tool means are moved apart and separated from the workpiece.

4. In a template controlled machine tool, in combination, a first unit comprising elongated 'template means having two guide tracks crossing each other at a rst crossing and at a second crossing point, each guide track having a first track portion on one side of said first crossing point, a second track portion between. said first crossing point and said second crossing point, and a third track portion on the other side of said second crossing point, and holder means for holding al workpiece fixed in a selected position relative to said template means, said template means including a iirst template with a pointed end and having said first track porions on opposite sides thereof and extending to said pointed end, and a second template having said second track portionsya second unit comprising at least two feeler means including feeler members located in different planes and respectively engaging said guide tracks, each of said feeler membes having a height less than half the height of said guide tracks, said feeler means being spaced from each otheralong said guide tracks, and two tool .means including two milling cutters located in the sameplane operativelyiconnected to said feeler means for movement with the same and adapted to operate on two faces of the workpiece,

respectively, said milling cutters being spaced from each,

other along said workpiece the same distance as said t feeler means are spaced along said template,teach milling point to said secondtrack` portions and said tool means move along crossing paths whereby said faces are fully.

machined to a line where said faces merge or intersect,

and so that said feeler means move from said secondtrack portions over said second crossing point to said third track portions whereby said tool means are moved apart and separated from thelworkpiece, said milling cutters passing said line successively vand one at a time,and said feeler means moving successively and one at a time over said first and second crossing points.`

K 5. A template controlled machine tool as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid second template comprises two parts locatedl in said parallel planes, respectively, and

means for securing said two parts to eachother, said parts of said second-template having said second track portions, respectively; and wherein said second template is adjustable .to vary the distance between said second track portions and said pointed endof said first template.

pointed end having rst track portions on opposite sides thereof located in parallel planes and extending to said Apointed end, and a second template having second track portionslocated in said parallel planes, each of said second track portions being a'continuation of the respective Yirst track portion located in the same plane and forming Vat said second crossing point.

9. A template means as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second template comprises two parts adjustably secured to each other, said two parts having said second track portions, respectively so that the relative position of said second track portions to each other, and to said first track portions can be adjusted.

10. In a machine tool, in'combination, a first unit including holder means for holding an elongated workpiece having longitudinally extending edges forming a point at the end of the workpiece, and template means having two guide tracks including rst guide track portions parallel to said edges of said workpiece and second guide track portions extending beyond said edges and said point; a second unit comprising two feeler means respectively engaging said guide tracks, and two tools operatively connected to said feeler means for movement with the same and respectively adapted to machine saidvedges of the workpiece, said tools and feeler means being staggered in the longitudinal direction of said guide tracks; and means for moving one of said units relative to the other unit so that said Vfeeler means moving along said irst guide tracks cause movement of said tools along said edges and moving along said second guide track portions cause successive movements of said tools over and beyond said point of the workpiece, said second unit being constructed and arranged in such a manner that one of said tools reaching the point of the workpiece before the other `of said tools crosses over the path of the other of said tools before said other of said tools reaches the point of the workpiece so as to machine one of said edges up to the point thereof and that the other of said tools reaches the point of the workpiece and crosses over the path of said one of said tools after said one of said tools has reached the point of the workpiece so as to machine the other edge of the workpiece up to the point thereof whereby `a point of the workpiece having a predetermined angle and sharpness is produced by successive operations of one tool at a time.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS l/32 Cameron 144--144 9/58 Schils 144-144 

1. IN A TEMPLATE CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST UNIT COMPRISING ELONGATED TEMPLATE MEANS HAVING AT LEAST TWO GUIDE TRACKS CROSSING EACH OTHER AT A CROSSING POINT, EACH GUIDE TRACK HAVING A FIRST TRACK PORTION ON ONE SIDE OF SAID CROSSING POINT AND A SECOND TRACK PORTION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID CROSSING POINT, AND HOLDER MEANS FOR HOLDING A WORKPIECE FIXED IN A SELECTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID TEMPLATE MEANS; A SECOND UNIT COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO FEELER MEANS RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID GUIDE TRACKS, SAID FEELER MEANS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG SAID GUIDE TRACKS, AND TWO TOOL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FEELER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE SAME AND ADAPTED TO OPERATE ON TWO FACES OF THE WORKPIECE, RESPECTIVELY, SAID TOOL MEANS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ALONG SAID WORKPIECE THE SAME DISTANCE AS SAID FEELER MEANS ARE SPACED ALONG SAID TEMPLATE; AND MEANS FOR MOVING ONE OF SAID UNITS RELATIVE TO THE OTHER UNIT SO THAT SAID FEELER MEANS MOVE ALONG SAID FIRST TRACK PORTIONS AND SUCCESSIVE ONE AT A TIME OVER SAID CROSSING POINT TO SAID SECOND TRACK PORTIONS AND SAID TOOL MEANS MOVE ALONG CROSSING PATHS WHEREBY SAID FACES ARE FULLY MACHINED TO A LINE SUCCESSIVELY PASSED BY ONE TOOL AT A TIME WHERE SAID FACES MERGER OR INTERSECT, WHILE EACH FEELER MEANS MOVES FROM THE RESPECTIVE FIRST TRACK PORTION TO SAID SECOND TRACK PORTION AND OVER SAID CROSSING POINT. 